EUROPE'S largest own label ice cream manufacturer has continued its impressive growth across the continent with the purchase of a German firm.

R&R Ice Cream has agreed to buy Durigon Gelato, based at Schwanewede-Brundorf near Bremen, for an undisclosed sum.

The purchase of the German company, employing 70, is the latest in a line of European acquisitions by the North Yorkshire firm, which three months ago bought out its second French rival in little over a year.

In September the Leeming Bar company, named the UK's fastest growing firm by The Sunday Times, acquired Pilpa, a leading supplier of own label ice cream to French supermarkets, from Maison Boncolac in a 27m euro deal.

It followed its purchase of family-owned Rolland, France's third largest ice cream company, last year.

The latest deal, which is subject to clearance from German competition authorities, will see the Durigon brand retained, with R&R investing in the factory.

Durigon, which had sales of £17m in 2010, manufactures ice cream products for the private label market and also under the Durigon brand.

Werner Durigon, who will continue as managing director of Durigon, said: "I am pleased that our family's and employees long association with Durigon will continue within the R&R group and look forward to strong future growth in our factory at Schwanewede."

R&R Europe chief executive Dr Ibrahim Najafi said: "I am delighted that Werner and Daniel Durigon will stay with the business and join the R&R team.

"We are excited about the potential for Durigon through using the resource and experience of R&R to further develop a respected and long-standing family business."

R&R has grown from four employees in 1985 to become the UK's largest volume ice cream producer with a predicted turnover this year of around £515m and 2,000 employees.

It began life as Richmond Ice Cream in 1985 when farmer and businessman Jonathan Ropner acquired Cardosi, a small ice cream manufacturer in Thornaby, near Stockton.

The name of the business, with a turnover of only £250,000, was changed and production moved to Leeming Bar, in North Yorkshire.

In 1998, the business merged with Treats Group, which enabled the firm to enter the ice lolly market.

In 2001, it bought Nestle Ice Cream's UK business, giving it access to top brands such as Fab, Mr Men, Smarties, Yorkie and Rolo.

In 2006, the business was acquired by Oaktree Capital Management, renamed R&R Ice Cream and merged with a German ice cream business.

As well as two other factories in the UK, R&R has plants in Germany France and Poland.